Flashlight



Patented Sept. 9, 1947 fil-.ED

3k Claims.

v(Granted `under the-act oflVIa-rch '1.3, '11883,fas "amendedApril .30, 1928 537010. G. 757) yThis invention relates to: anew 'and improved v construction in a-portable, self-contained, illuminating device, commonly referred'to .as a'ashlight. Although not, confined to lsuch'use .this invention Ahas ibeen designed especially 4lio-ruse with life rafts, collapsible nboats, life preservers :or the like, .and can beca-rriedby aircraft or surface or submersible vessels.

AThe primary: object of the invention is to .provide a flashlight whichwilhnotbe adversely .affected by exposurerto moisture or saltwater.

A `further objectief-.the invention is toxprovide a waterproof 'flashlight that lwillfnever fail to operate. even .under .the most.:adversenonditions and after long periods .'of'nonuse. y.Iothis end the .invention provides a :flashlight "of .extreme simplicity of 'design having gno exposed lmetal parts and having all ofthe electrical"connections and contact elements substantially, hermetically, sealed in a noncorrosive casing.

`A 'further -objectof :the invention .is yto provide a :flashlight 'of greatlyL simplified :construction :to reduce the number .of parts thereof,.gfacilitating the assembly intofcompleteiunits.

A further object ofthejnvention is to; provide av flashlight vwherein 'the internal Ymetallic lparts are substantially, hermetically, sealed so that water andexternal'gases such as sea-air cannot gain access thereto and exercise a corrosive eiiect thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel, simplied, electric switch construction for controlling the bulb circuit characterized by the absence of switch ybuttonsor other elements extending through the casing.

Other and further objects 1and'advantages` of the presentinvention will beapparent tothose skilled inthe art from a consideration ofthefoln lowing ldescription of `a specific embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational sectional View.

Fig. 2 is an exploded fragmentary view illustrating the switch mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is an elevational plan view, illustrating the method of operating the light in dotted lines.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, the numeral l designates an inner tubular casing, preferably constructed of bre, or similar rigid materiaL-fopenatronee #anda-closed at the opposing endv :andizhaving .aicap v 2--v movably mounted on ther-closed -end fconstructed `of suitable material sllchsasrcoppen'ztl'rcough which an electric current will? flow. Th'ecapizisnnovably .mounted .on the inner casing .I :byzmeans of fa stud 3 of conventional construction extending through the closed lend o'ff isaidzinnerfcasing I,1and .upon which cap '2 pivots. .".Mountedv-onfthestud .3 inside of the inner :casingl is a-coi'lspring 4 adapted to hold the central electrodefof the .battery V5 in constant `close `Contact with Ythe .bulb 6 which' is mounted in'a'socketintthefreiiector 'l in the conventional manner. The .openend of inneroasing I vhas.z-iternal.annularz threads to. receive the eX- ternal :annular threa'ds of the lens `8, said lens Bibeing: constructedof transparent plastic or similar material. iThe lens .8 .has an .integral out- Wardlyprojecting annular shoulder 9 for a purpose to.` behereinafterexplained. .A flexible outer casingpll .constructed .of neoprene `or rubber or similar material v'fits tightly .over the inner casing I. The open .lendsof` the .outer casing II] has the inwardly extended annular lip I4 `adapted to form a water-tight seal between the'shoulder aof-"theilen's 8. ian-d .the open vend ofthe inner easing .l when" the Lli-ght'isn assembled position, w-hichcconstructionzalsoiserving a-s a positive lockingwrnear'rsI for holding 'the outer casing vin position. rAstrap 2H Dita suitable electrical conductingfmaterial'fis'mountedzlon'theouter wall of said inner .casing I, :having an integral post I2 extending `:through the open -end :of the inner casing Informinga part-'of :the internal threads of saidinner casing, 'saidipost I2, when the light is assembledformsfa connection with the reflector TI for'the purpose of conducting an electric current to the bulb Gsmounted in said reflector l. ThesWitchimechan-ismfor completing and breaking :thefflow of. :current tothe bulb consists of a projectionV IfI aon :the `lower end of the strap II formedtofseatvinrthesocket .I:3 on the cap 2, when thefcap-.Z ismanually-Jm'oved into .closed position. .Fheupperzarea ofthefcap'g lon both sides of the socket liszrcut. away to permit the circuit to be broken 'upon .movement of the socket I3 out of contact: with '.thep'oj ection zl l In assembling `this-light the inner casing I with the cap 2 positioned so that the socket I3 thereon is immediately adjacent th'e projection I I' on the contact strap Il, is inserted in the outer casing I0. The battery 5 is inserted within the inner casing I and seated on the coil spring 4. A retainer ring I5 is screwed into the open end of the inner casing I, the bulb 6 is mounted in the reflector I in the conventional manner and the reflector and bulb inserted in the open end of the inner casing I and seated on said retainer ring I5. The lens 8 is then screwed tightly to the open end of the inner casing I, the lower end thereof exerting pressure against the reflector 'I upon movement into engaged position forcing the bulb 6 into close contact with the central electrode of the battery 5, the lip I 4 being compressed tightly between the upper end of the casings I and I- and the shoulder 9 of the lens 8 holding the outer casing in position and forming a water-tight connection and substantially hermetically sealing the operating mechanism of the flashlight within the waterproof casing I0. When it is desired to illuminate the ilashlight, the body of the light is gripped in one hand of the user and the lower end of the flexible casing lil is manually twisted with the other hand, springing the outer casing Ill until the socket I3 on the cap 2 receives the projection I I' on the lower end of the strap II completing the circuit of electric current from the battery through the coil spring 4, the stud 3, the cap 2, the strap II, IZ and the reflector 'l to the bulb E. To break the connection when illumination is no longer desired the lower end of the casing le is again manually twisted moving the socket i3 out of contact' with the strap il. The pin I6 of ber or similar nonconducting material, mounted in the inner casing I, acts as a stop, preventing the socket I3 from moving past the projection II and limiting the movement of the cap 2 in either direction.

1t is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings will vbe entirely clear from the foregoing description. It must -be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the details of construction shown in the drawings and described above, since all modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalent are included.

I claim:

1. A ashlight comprising an inner tubular casing having a cylindrical wall and a closed lower end and an internally threaded open upper end, a comb-ined closure and lens element comprising a transparent upper part and having an open lower end externally threaded andv engaged with said internally threaded end and including an outwardly projecting annular shoulder adjacent said open end, a battery in the inner casing, a

bulb and reflector in the inner casing, means in the lower end of said inner casing to hold the battery in contact with the bulb, said closure element holding said bulb and reflector in position, a flexible Waterproof outer casing adapted to receive said inner casing and having its upper end open, means mounted between said inner casing and outer casing and operable for conducting an electric current from said battery to said reilector and bulb, and an inturned lip on the upper end of said outer casing being clamped between said inner casing and said shoulder on said element to form a watertight seal when said element is secured 0n said inner casing.

2. A flashlight having a rigid inner casing and a flexible outer casing thereon both being open at the upper end, a spring mounted at the lower end of the inner casing, a 4battery in said inner casing seated on said spring, a metal reflector and a bulb therein disposed in the open end of the inner casing, a lens mounted on said inner casing and clamping the upper end part of said outer casing thereby forming a watertight closure and also holding the reflector and bulb in position in close contact with the battery, the lower end of the flexible outer casing being twistable relative to its upper end, metal means in contact with the reflector and extending through the inner casing adjacent the open end thereof, a metal strap mounted on the outer wall of said inner casing in connection with and extending from said metal means to a point adjacent the lower end 0f said inner casing, a metal cap rotatably mounted about the closed end of the inner casing and having electrical contact with the battery, and means on said cap to form a connection with said metal strap to complete the circuit to the bulb when said cap and the surrounding lower part of said outer casing are twisted slightly relative to the upper part of said outer casing and to the therein contained inner casing.

3. A iiashlight consisting of an inner casing open at one end and closed at the other end, a battery in said casing, a light bulb and a conduc- .tive reiiector mounting the bulb in said open end in electrical contact with the Ibattery, a lens of plastic material having screw threaded engagement with said open end and including an outwardly projecting shoulder, a tubular outer casing of elastic waterproof material around said inner casing and having a closed lower end and also an open upper end bent inward and clamped between said shoulder and the inner casing, a cup-shaped switch of conductive material positioned between the closed bottoms of the inner and the outer casing, having contact with the battery and being turnable on said inner casing, and conductive means connected with said reflector and including a metal strap leading downwardly to a point adjacent said switch, the elasticity of said outer casing facilitating a slight twisting of the switch alongrwith the surrounding lower part of the elastic outer casing around the inner casing for moving the switch into closing Contact with said strap.

WESLEY B. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file f this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 1,174,594 McGiff Mar. "I, 1916 2,234,972 Lennan Mar. 18, 1941 2,001,363 Joers May 14, 1935 2,143,558 Joers Jan. 10, 1939 1,340,550 Madigan May 18, 1920 2,355,247 Slocum Aug. 8, 1944 2,410,535 Van Daalen Nov. 5, 1946 

